Table 2.
Knowledge and practices towards epilepsy of traditional healers.
| Traditional healers N = 22 | |
|---|---|
| Knowledge on epilepsy and epilepsy remedy | |
| What is epilepsy, also called mad pig disease?(multiple answers) | |
| Convulsive disease with saliva/urine | 20 (90.9%) |
| Neurological disease | 9 (40.9%) |
| Disease of the blood system | 7 (31.8%) |
| Disease of nerve fibers/tendons | 6 (27.3%) |
| Hereditary disease | 6 (27.3%) |
| Do you know epilepsy remedies other than your epilepsy treatment methods? | |
| Yes | 11 (50.0%) |
| Biomedical medicine | 9 (40.9%) |
| Acupuncture | 2 (9.1%) |
| No | 11 (50.0%) |
| How did you learn about traditional medicine?(multiple answers) | |
| Family knowledge | 12 (54.5%) |
| Learned at the temple (learned with a monk) | 4 (18.2%) |
| Learned by ancient traditional healer | 3 (13.6%) |
| The only one remedy access to care in rural area | 3 (13.7%) |
| Have been chosen by a spirit to become a healer | 3 (13.7%) |
| Practices on epilepsy | |
| Which methods do you use to treat epilepsy?(multiple answers) | |
| Herbal medicines | 19 (86.4%) |
| Animals (bone, teeth) | 7 (31.8%) |
| Other | 4 (18.2%) |
| Why do you use traditional remedy?(multiple answers) | |
| This is a tradition/these traditions exist in Lao folk custom | 12 (54.5%) |
| Generation-to-generation knowledge | 8 (36.4%) |
| Fewest side effects | 7 (31.8%) |
| Restrictions?Yes | |
| Food diet | 15 (68.2%) |
| No restrictions, just advise him to be careful about the seizures | 7 (31.2%) |
| Drinking alcohol | 4 (18.2%) |
| Advice for PWEs who want to use antiepileptic drugs | |
| Patient’s preference | 10 (45.5%) |
| In association with no restriction | 9 (40.9%) |
| One after the other | 3 (13.6%) |